Control mechanism for embroidering machines



Aug. 16, 1966 T. s. HAGGAR 3,266,448

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR EMBROIDERING MACHINES Filed Nov. 25, 1964 2 Shaecs-$heet 1 5 FIG] l I l I z I 1 I N N 2 f m N N m INVENTOR T HE ODORE S- AGGAR NEY Aug. 16, 1966 T. s. HAGGAR 3,266,448

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR EMBROIDERING MACHINES Filed Nov. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ACQUARD A IR S U P P LY INVENTOR THEODORE S HAG AR United States Patent '0 3,266,448 CONTROL MECHANISM FOR EMBROIDERDIG MACHINES Theodore S. Haggai, 14 Sherwood St., Wayne, NJ. Filed Nov. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 413,850 5 Claims. (Cl. 112-84) The present invention relates to embroidering machines such as the horizontal needle, pattern controlled, fabric shifting type, for example, a Zangs machine; and more particularly to an improved arrangement for stopping the needle bar operating shaft and holding the needles on the bar out of engagement with the fabric while the fabric is being shifted from one pattern area to another.

Embroidering machines of the foregoing type generally comprise supporting structure such as a fixed frame, a vertical fabric supporting frame mounted on the structure for back and forth and up and down movement, a needle bar in front of the fabric provided with a row of needles thereon, a needle bar operating shaft and linkage for effecting reciprocation of the needle bar, patterning mechanism such as a Jacquard for controlling the movements of the fabric frame so that the needles embroidering a design or pattern on the fabric, a drive shaft, a cam and an idler roll on the drive shaft, a crank having one end secured to the needle bar operating shaft, a roller on the other end of the crank arranged to be shifted back and forth between the cam and the idler roll to normally rock the needle bar operating shaft and to stop movement thereof under the control of the Jacquard, and a rod or bolt mounted on the needle bar operating shaft for movement therewith adapted to engage a fixed frame section of the supporting structure and to hold the needles away from the fabric when the fabric is to be shifted to another design or pattern area.

Such a machine is extremely noisy because the rod or bolt strikes the fixed frame section each time the needles move away from the fabric, but a far more serious objection is that the rod or bolt forms a depression in the fixed frame structure which it strikes so that the bolt or rod is improperly positioned when stopped and the roller is in binding engagement with the cam when the needle bar operating shaft is to be stopped and the roller shifting mechanism is incapable of moving the roller off the cam and onto the idler roll. Consequently the needles will continue to reciprocate and move through the fabric as the fabric is shifted from one design or pattern area to another, whereby the needles will damage the fabric and the design or pattern embroidered thereon or needle breakage occurs.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a needle bar stopping arrangement which is not subject to the foregoing diificulties and disadvantages.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement wherein proper positioning of the needles is assured whenever the needle bar is stopped while shifting the fabric.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement wherein shifting of the cam follower roller to the idler roll is facilitated to eliminate malfunctioning of the machine.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement which does not require frequent readjustment of the stop rod or plunger because wear of the fixed stopping surface is eliminated.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement which greatly minimizes noise during operation of the machine.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement which can be embodied in newly fabricated machines and machines already in use.

A further object is to provide such an arrangement which is simple, economical and durable in construction and reliable in operation.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects are generally accomplished by providing an arrangement which normally is ineffective to stop movement of the needle bar but is rendered effective to stop the needle bar and hold the needles away from the fabric at such times when the fabric is to be shifted.

Such an arrangement generally comprises a reciprocatable plunger mounted on the needle bar for engaging a section of the fixed frame which normally is retracted and is extended when desired, and mechanism for so operating the plunger to extend the same when the cam follower roller is to be shifted onto the idler roll and to retract the same when the roller is to be shifted from the roll to the cam. Such an arrangement is applied at both ends of the needle bar, but since both of the arrangements are substantially identical only one of them need be illustrated and described.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevational view of the foregoing arrangement applied to the machine at the left end of the needle bar.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line 2-2 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view including a diagram of the control means for the needle stopping arrangement.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown a portion of a fixed frame section 10 of a conventional Zangs type embroidering machine, of which the fabric frame, the frame structure, the fabric frame moving mechanism and other well known elements are not shown for the sake of simplicity and better understanding of the present invention, a drive shaft 11, a needle bar operating shaft 12, a cam 14 on the drive shaft 11, an idler roll 15 on the drive shaft adjacent the cam, the cam and roll having radially aligned generally circular portions 16 and 17 (FIG. 2), a crank 18 having one end secured to the shaft 12, a cam and idler follower roller 20 mounted for rotation at the other end of the crank and for axial or lengthwise back and forth movement with respect to the drive shaft 11 while in engagement with the cam and/or the idler roll, and a fork 21 (FIG. 3) for shifting the roller 20 mounted on the piston rod 22 of a reciprocating motor such as an air operated motor including a cylinder 24 provided with ports 25 and 26 at opposite ends and a piston 27 secured to the piston rod 22.

The elements so far described have been utilized for shifting the follower roller from the cam onto the idler roll to stop the rocking of the needle bar operating shaft before the fabric frame is shifted and to shift the follower roller from the idler roll onto the cam when the needle bar operating shaft is to be put in action again.

In furtherance of the present invention an arrangement for stopping the needle bar with the needles out of engagement with the fabric is shown which essentially comprises a clamp or mount 30 secured to the needle bar operating shaft 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2), a rod or plunger 31 for engaging the fixed frame section 10, and a reciprocating motor 32 mounted on the clamp 30 for operating the plunger .31 as about to be described.

The motor 32 shown herein by way of example is of the air operated-spring return type, and comprises a cylinder 34 (FIG. 3) provided with a vent 35 at one end and a port 36 at the opposite end, a piston 37 in the cylinder 34 having the plunger 31 secured thereto, which extends outwardly of the vented end of the cylinder, a piston rod 38 secured to the piston which extends outwardly of the opposite end of the cylinder and has a head 39 at the free end thereof, and a return spring 40 biased under compression between the head 39 and the cylinder end wall.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation of the air motors is accomplished by a valve 41 such as a shuttle valve which comprises a cylinder 42 having an inlet 44 connected to a compressed air supply 4'5, an outlet 46 connected to the port 25 of the air motor cylinder 24, an outlet 47 connected to the port 26 of the cylinder 24 and to the port 36 of the air motor cylinder 34; and upper and lower venting outlets 48 and 49; a valve member 50 slidably disposed in the cylinder 42 having a first flange 51 and a reduced portion 52 for alternately connecting the outlet 46 to the inlet 44 and to the venting outlet 48 and having a second flange 54 and a reduced portion 55 for alternately connecting the outlet 47 to the venting outlet 49 and to the inlet 44; and a solenoid 56 for so positioning the valve member 50 which is energized and deenergized by a switch 57 controlled by a Jacquard 58 or the like.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 3, the valve member 50 is positioned to admit air to the port 25 which moves the piston 27 to the right (as viewed) to hold the roller on the cam 14, with the ports 26 and 36 being vented through the valve outlets 47 and 49 and the return spring 40 holding the plunger 31 in a retracted position while rocking of the needle bar operating shaft 12 is effected by the cam 14 whereby the plunger 31 does not strike the frame section 10.

When it is desired to extend the plunger 31 for engagement with the frame section and to immobilize the needle bar operating shaft 12 for the purposes already described, the valve member 50 is positioned to admit air to the ports 26 and 36 and to vent the port 25 through the valve outlet-s 46 and 48. As the valve member 51} is so positioned, the plunger 31 is extended first because of the pressure of the roller 20 on the cam 14 establishes a friction force which resists sliding movement of the roller 20 across the cam and the idler roll.

However, as the plunger 31 is extended and engages the frame section 10, the air pressure working on the plunger piston 37 tends to rock the clamp 30 and the needle bar operating shaft r12, a slight distance in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 2) so that the roller 20 is raised slightly to move the same out of frictional engagement with the cam 14 and the idler roll whereupon the roller is readily shifted to the left (as viewed in FIG. 3).

When the Jacquard has controlled the fabric frame shifting operations, it controls the valve member 50 to return to the position as shown, whereupon the plunger 31 is retracted by its spring 40 and the roller is shifted back onto the cam '14 to effect rocking of the needle bar operating shaft. 'Since the roller 20 is in light contact with idler roll 15, the roller 20 is shifted onto the cam 14 instantly by the air ope-rated piston 27 while retraction of the plunger 31 lags momentarily as the cylinder 34 is vented to enable the return spring 40 to retract the plunger.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides improved needle bar stopping and needle positioning arrangements which are fully capable of carrying out the objects enumerated herein.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In an embroidering machine of the class described, the combination of a fixed frame section, a drive shaft, a needle bar operating shaft, a cam on said drive shaft, an idler roll on said drive shaft adjacent said cam, said cam and said roll having radially aligned generally circular portions, a crank having one end secured to said needle bar operating shaft, a roller mounted at the other end of said crank for axial movement with respect to said drive shaft and engagement with said cam and said roll, first mechanism for shifting said roller from said cam to said roll and vice versa when said roller is opposite said generally circular portion-s, second mechanism. mounted on said needle bar operating shaft including a reci rocatable plunger and means for alternately extending said plunger to engage said frame section and for retracting said plunger, and control means for effecting operation of said first mechanism to move said roller between said cam and said idler roll positions and for effecting operation of said second mechanism to extend said plunger.

2. In an embroidering machine according to claim 1, wherein said plunger is arranged to effect movement of said crank in a direction to relieve friction between said roller and said cam and roll when said plunger engages said frame section to free said roller for axial movement from said cam to said roll and vice versa.

3. In an embroidering machine according to claim 1, wherein said first mechanism include-s a pressure operated piston for shifting said roller from said cam to said roll and vice versa, said second mechanism includes a pressure operated piston for extending said plunger and a return spring for retracting said plunger, and said control means includes valving for fluid under pressure.

4. In an embroidering machine according to claim 3, wherein said valving includes means for causing fluid under pressure to extend said plunger and to shift said roller from said cam to said roll and means for relieving fluid pressure acting on said piston plunger to render said return spring effective and for causing fluid under pressure to shift said roller from said roll to said cam.

5. In an embroidering machine according to claim 1, wherein said plunger normally is prevented from contacting said frame section, and means are provided for rendering said control means effective only when opera tion of said needle bar operating shaft is to be stopped.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 435,875 9/1890 Wi'llcox et al 112-87 X 1,107,673 8/1914 Kolber 11283 X 2,950,694 8/1960 Siegal 1l2-83 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

A. R. GUEST, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN EMBROIDERING MACHINE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, THE COMBINATION OF A FIXED FRAME SECTION, A DRIVE SHAFT, A NEEDLE BAR OPERATING SHAFT, A CAM ON SAID DRIVE SHAFT, AN IDLER ROLL ON SAID DRIVE SHAFT ADJACENT SAID CAM, SAID CAM AND SAID ROLL HAVING RADIALLY ALIGNED GENERALLY CIRCULAR PORTIONS, A CRANK HAVING ONE END SECURED TO SAID NEEDLE BAR OPERATING SHAFT, A ROLLER MOUNTED AT THE OTHER END OF SAID CRANK FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID DRIVE SHAFT AND ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CAM AND SAID ROLL, FIRST MECHANISM FOR SHIFTING SAID ROLLER FROM SAID CAM TO SAID ROLL AND VICE VERSA WHEN SAID ROLLER IS OPPOSITE SAID GENERALLY CIRCULAR PORTIONS, SECOND MECHANISM MOUNTED ON SAID NEEDLE BAR OPERATING SHAFT INCLUDING A RECIPROCATABLE PLUNGER AND MEANS FOR ALTERNATELY EXTENDING SAID PLUNGER TO ENGAGE SAID FRAME SECTION AND FOR RETRACTING SAID PLUNGER, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR EFFECTING OPERATION OF SAID FIRST MECHANISM TO MOVE SAID ROLLER BETWEEN SAID CAM AND SAID IDLER ROLL POSITIONS AND FOR EFFECTING OPERATION OF SAID SECOND MECHANISM TO EXTEND SAID PLUNGER. 